Stop and turn signal



Sept. 24, 1940. A. w. GRAY STOP AND TURN SIGNAL Filed May 10, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

sGpt. 24, 1940. w GRAY 2,215,921

STOP AND TURN SIGNAL Filed May 10, 1939 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A. W 6km;

A iiorneys Sept. 24, 1940. A. w. GRAY STOP AND TURN SIGNAL Filed May 10, 1939 3 Sheets-$heet 3 A ttomeys Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED .STATES' PATENT: OFFICE My invention relates to improvements in combination stop and turn signals for motor vehicles. I

The invention is designed with theparticularpurpose in viewof providing a simply constructed signaling apparatus which may be readily attached to the rear end of the body of an automobile for'manual operation from the driver's seat to indicate the intention of the driver to stop, or to turn, right or left, and including signaling means adapted to be normally blinded, or covered, in a manner such as to direct attention to an automobile equipped with the signaling apparatus.

My invention also comprehends other and subordinate objects, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvement, will be readily understood when thesucceeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this speci- I flcation,

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of the body of an automobile equipped with my improved signaling apparatus.

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of thesignaling apparatus, proper, detached and with the right and left turn signaling members and other parts in normal position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in transverse section taken through the control box and rightand left turn signaling members.

Figure 4 is 'a view in verticalcentral section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicatedby the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail view in transversesectio taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the basic element of my invention is a control box I of substantially rectangular form, in cross section,

I adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the curvature of the rear end of said body above said window 3. A pair of right and left turn signal operating shafts 4 and 5, respectively, are mounted horizontally in the control box I in end to end axialrelation for independent rocking movement and with the outer ends thereof extendingoutwardly of the sides 6 of said box, said shafts being preferably disposed in the upper rear part of the box. For mounting the shafts 4, 5, the

outer'ends thereof are suitably journaled in the 10 opposite sides 6 of the box I, and the inner ends thereof in a bearing bracket I provided in the vertical center of the box, as shown in Figure 3.

A pair of elongated right and left turn signaling members 8 and 9, respectively, extend length- 15 will be understood, the ears I2 are located on the 25 members 8 and 9 at the juncture of the panels l0 and flanges I I in between said panels and flanges. The panels 8, 9 bear the legends .Turn as indicated at ll, delineated thereon in any suitable manner. Normally, the members 8, 9 are so po'sitioned that the flanges H are vertically disposed and .rearmost and the panels l0 horizontallydisposed and uppermost, and the legends H are on the normally under face of the panels I0, whereby the flanges l I are presented to the eye of a trailing driver-and the-legends ll are hidden. Also, as will be manifest, if the shafts 4; 5 are given a. quarter turn from normal position in the proper direction, 1. e., clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4,

.the members 8, 9 will be rotated to reverse the described position of the flanges H and panels l0 so that said panels will be vertically disposed to display the legends ll to trailing drivers and the flanges II will be horizontally disposed and presented edgewise to such dri'vers.-.

The back l5 of the control box I extends above the top l8 thereof, as at H, and below' the bottom l8 of saidbox, as at l9, and is of ornamental design, preferably having the form of the back of a bird such as a pigeon with the heady upper- 50 most. ,The flanges II have the form of wings, whereby when the members 8, 8 are in normalposition with the flanges l l. vertical, said flanges together with the back l5 present a complete design of a pigeon in flight. These novel features 55.

The members 8, 8 aredetachably se- 20 serve to direct the attention of trailing drivers to the signaling device for reasons which will be understood.

Hinged, as at 20, in the horizontal center of the back I5 is a flap 2| normally pendant and overlying the lower half of said back 5, said flap being of the same shape and size as the lower part of the back and swingable fromnormal into upright position to thereby expose to view the rear face thereof and said lower half of the back. The legend Stop is delineated in part on the rear face of said flap, as at 22, and in part on the lower half of said back l5, as at 23, whereby when the flap is in normal position the legend is hidden and when said flap is swung into upstanding, or signaling, position, said legend 22, 23 is displayed to the rear.

In the back of the control box is a flap operating cross shaft 24 having the ends thereof suitably journaled in the sides 6 of said box I and a gear pinion 25 fixed centrally thereon. The hinge 20 of the flap 2| has the usual rotatably mounted pintle 26 to which the flap 2| is suitably secured at one end and which pintle has fast thereon a gear segment 21 extending through a slot 28 in the back |5 of the box and into mesh with the gear pinion 25. By rotating the flap operating shaft, and hence the gear pinion 25, a half turn, in the proper direction, i. e., counter clockwise as viewed in Figure 4, said flap 2| will be swung from normal to signaling position.

For rotating the right and left turn signal operating shafts 4, 5 from normal position the following operating mechanism is provided.

A pair of right and left hand guide tubes 29 and 30 are suitable secured in the usual space 3| between the outer and inner walls of the automobile body 2, to extend forwardly from the control box in laterally spaced relation, said tubes having flanged rear ends 32 extending through said outer wall and opening into the control box I. The front ends 33 of the tubes 29, 30 are downturned and extend through the inner wall of the body 4 to terminate over the drivers head and within convenient reach of the driver's right hand. A pair of right and left pulleys 34, 35 are fixed upon the right and left turn signal operating shafts 4 and 5, respectively, adjacent to the side walls 6. A pair of right and left chains 36, 31 are operatively connected at one end to said pulleys 34, 35, respectively, and extended through said tubes 29 and 30 with the other ends thereof depending from the front ends 33 of said tubes and equipped with ball-like hand grips 38.

The right and left turn signal operating shafts 4, 5 are each yieldingly held in normal position by a coiled spring 39 sleeved thereon intermediate the bracket 1 and the pulley 34, or 35, as the case may be, one end of the spring being anchored to said bracket and the'other end to a cotter pin 40 on the pulley normally bearing under reaction of the spring against a fixed stop 4| in the control box whereby the normal position of the shaft is established. The chains 36,

31 are connected to their related pulleys 34, 35

so that under pull exerted thereon the requisite quarter turn will be imparted to the shafts 4, 5 and hence to the members 8 and 9.

As will now be seen, by'pulling on the hand grip 38 of the appropriate chain 36, 31, the right and left turn signaling members 8, 9 may be rotated selectively fr0m,norm'al position to display the warning legends M on the panels In, and upon release of the pulled chain the rotated member 8, or 9, will be returned to normal position by the related spring 39 to obliterate the warning legend. The front ends 33 of the tubes 29, 30 are eachprovided with a slot 42 therein for anchoring the related chain to said end and thereby preventing return of the member 8, or

9, to normal position, so that the driver may release his hold on a chain and set the member selected for display of the legend M as long as desired.

For rotating the flap operating shaft 24, a third guide tube 43 is provided in the space 3| intermediate the tubes 29, 30, said tube 43 being substantially identical in arrangement and structure with said tubes 29, 30. A pull chain 44 is extended through the tube 43 in the same manner as chains 36, 31 and provided at its front .end with a hand grip ball 45. The rear end of the chain 44 is wound around and suitably anchored to a pulley' 46 fast on the shaft 24 to rotate said shaft a half turn. The normal position of the shaft 24 is established by' engagement of the flap 2| with'the lower half of the back 15 of said box I as will be clear. A coil spring 41 on the shaft 24 having its ends anchored to said pulley 46 and to a boss 48 on the box I urges said shaft and the flap 2| into normal position.

Under pull on the hand grip of chain 44 the shaft 24 will be rocked from normal position to swingthe flap 2| into upright signaling position and thereby display the stop legends 22, 23 to view. Upon release of the hand grip 45 the spring 41 will return-the shaft 24 and flap 2| to normal position in a manner which will be understood.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufiice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with the body of an automobile, of signalling apparatus comprising a control box secured to the rear end of said body, a pair of right and left elongated signalling members rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said box to extend lengthwise therefrom in horizontally aligned position, said members comprising, respectively, a signalling panel and a dummy panel extending at a right angle from one edge of the signalling panel, and said members being rotatable separately to position the respective panels in vertical position alternately and thereby adjust the same into signalling and non-signalling positions, respectively, and manipulative means to rotate said members comprising a pair of pull chains extending along the top of the automobile into said box and having free ends depending from said. top over the drivers seat, and operating connections in said box between said chains and said members.

2. The combination with the body of an automobile, of signalling apparatus comprising a control box secured to the rear end of said body, a pair of right and left elongated signalling members rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said box to extend lengthwise therefrom in horizontally aligned position, said members comprising,

tions, respectively, and manipuLative means to rotate said members comprising a pair of pull chains extending along the top of the automobile into said box and having free ends depending from said top over the driver's seat, and operating connections in said box between said chains and said members, comprising a pair of operating shafts for said members, respectively, a pair of pulleys fast on said shafts, respectively, to each of which one of said chains is connected, and spring means tensioning each shaft against operation.

. ARTHUR W. GRAY. 

